Watch movement with a circular movable indicator member

ABSTRACT

A watch movement comprising a base plate having a protuberant portion, a circular movable indicator member provided with a peripheral toothing having a plurality of teeth and rotatively guided by the protuberant portion of the base plate, a holding plate rigidly secured to the base plate and having an arcuate edge portion extending over an arc less than 180* above the toothing, a jumper mounted on the base plate, and cover elements extending opposite the edge portion and above the toothing, the cover elements being rigidly connected to the base plate and including projections separated by notches, the shape and distribution of the notches being identical to those of the teeth, the indicator member having a resting position provided by the jumper mounted on the base plate, and each projection extending above one of the teeth when the indicating member is in the resting portion.

United States Patent Giger et al.

July 8,1975

[ WATCH MOVEMENT WITH A CIRCULAR MOVABLE INDICATOR MEMBER [75] Inventors: Urs Giger, Solothurn; Edwin Jakob,

Grenchen; Friedrich Perrot, Lengnau; Paul David, Biberist, all of Switzerland [73] Assignee: ETA A.G. Ehauches Fabrik,

Grenchen, Switzerland [22] Filed: June 26, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 483,435

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data July 13, l973 Switzerland 10264/73 [52] U.S. Cl. 58/58 [51] Int. Cl. G04!) 19/24 [58] Field of Search 58/4, 5, 58

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,948,l07 8/l960 Marmier 58/58 3,352,103 11/1967 Giger M 58/58 3,668,863 6/1972 Miyasaka l. 58/58 Primary Examiner-George H. Miller, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Stevens, Davis, Miller & Mosher 57] ABSTRACT A watch movement comprising a base plate having a protuberant portion, a circular movable indicator member provided with a peripheral toothing having a plurality of teeth and rotatively guided by the protuberant portion of the base plate, a holding plate rigidly secured to the base plate and having an arcuate edge portion extending over an arc less than 180 above the toothing, a jumper mounted on the base plate, and cover elements extending opposite the edge portion and above the toothing, the cover elements being rigidly connected to the base plate and including projections separated by notches, the shape and distribution of the notches being identical to those of the teeth, the indicator member having a resting position provided by the jumper mounted on the base plate, and each projection extending above one of the teeth when the indicating member is in the resting portion.

10 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures P'A'TENTEDJUL 8 ms 3.893289 sum 1 FIG. .1

PATENTEBJUL 8 ms 3.893.289

SHEET 2 FIG. 2

14 1a 13 1s as I K FIG.3

PATENTEDJUL 8 ms 3. 893; 289 sum 3 FIG. 6 FIG. 5

WATCH MOVEMENT WITH A CIRCULAR MOVABLE INDICATOR MEMBER This invention relates to a watch movement comprising a base plate. a circular movable indicator member provided with a peripheral toothing and rotatively guided by a protuberant portion of the base plate. and a number of cover elements. each extending opposite at least one tooth of the indicator member so as to hold it axially in place.

Watch movements for date-watches generally comprise a ring with an inner toothing mounted on the base plate. normally held in a fixed position by a jumperspring and driven by one step every 24 hours. This ring is guided by the lateral face of a boss projecting from the base plate or. as the case may be. by the edge of a retaining plate. At the periphery of this retaining plate is an annular rim which is either continuous or divided into segments so as to cover the inner toothing of the date-ring over one or more arcs of a circle of a suffcient length to keep the ring in place in the axial direction ofthe watch. In general. this retaining plate. which may also be divided into a number of partial plates. likewise serves to hold parts of the winding and setting mechanism or parts of the calendar mechanism axially in place. Thus. in general. the retaining plate holds the jumper of the date-ring. as well as the spring acting upon this jumper, in place.

When the movement is being assembled. and after overhaul or repair. the retaining plate must be fastened to the base plate again; and when. as is often the case. it also serves to hold the jumper in place. this operation presents certain difficulties. The jumper must then be fitted with its spring and the date-ring before the retaining plate can be laid on the base plate and fastened with screws. Inasmuch as the spring is then tensed. since the jumper is pressed against the toothing ofthe date'ring. it can be ejected as a result of a shock or vibration before the retaining plate is actually in place. and this complicates the assembly operation.

In order to alleviate this complication, it has already been proposed to divide the retaining plate into two retaining members, one of which may be fastened to the base plate before the date-ring is fitted. The date-ring is then engaged on its seating at a slant. the toothing being hooked to cover elements of the retaining member already in place. next it is placed on the base plate. and the second retaining member is put in place. This arrangement does not simplify the assembly as much as would be desirable. however. because of the difficulties and the operations which remain for putting the second retaining member in place.

It is the object of this invention to simplify these operations still further.

To this end. in the watch movement according to the present invention of the type initially described, the cover elements comprise at least one permanent ele ment rigidly joined to a retaining member fastened to the base plate. the permanent cover member or members covering a portion of the toothing extending over less than 180. and a non-permanent cover element formed in one piece with a support body permanently mounted on the base plate. the position of the nonpermanent element with respect to the teeth facing it being variable from a relative covering position to a relative disengagement position without modification of the mounting means ofthe body. and the portion of the indicator member facing the non-permanent cover element being adapted to be disengaged from the protuberant portion when the non-permanent cover element is in the disengagement position.

Several possible embodiments of the invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. in which:

FIG. I is a top plan view of a first embodiment. the retaining plate being partially broken away.

FIG. 2 is a section on a larger scale taken on the line Illl of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a partial top plan view of a second embodiment on a larger scale than that of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a view analogous to FIG. 3 of a third embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a modified form of the jumper of the first embodiment. and

FIG. 6 is a section taken on the line Vl-VI of FIG. 5.

FIG. 1 shows a base plate I of a calendar watch movement. on which there is mounted a date-ring 2 having a 3I-tooth inner toothing 3. An hour-wheel 4 is rotated by the movement in a conventional manner and actuates a transmission wheel-and-pinion 5 which permanently drives a calendar wheel 6 at the rate of one revolution per day. This wheel 6 actuates the date-ring 2 by one step per day by means which are not shown. so that figures inscribed on the upper face of the ring 2 appear successively in an aperture in the dial. Except for its short periods of displacement. which may be reduced to virtually instantaneous jumps. the date-ring 2 remains stationary. It is held in position by a jumper 7 which pivots about a stud 8 set upright into the base plate 1 or made in one piece with it. A hairpin spring 9 acts upon the jumper 8. One of the ends of this spring 9 rests on the jumper 7, while the other end rests against the flank of a recess in the base plate 1. The point of the jumper 7 is triangular and normally rests against two of the teeth of the ring 2. which suffices to block it. The ring 2 rests on the base plate I. It is guided laterally by the flank Ia ofa protuberance or projection formed in the base plate 1. The flank of this projection is a cylindrical surface portion coaxial with the movement. and the radius of which is adjusted to the inner faces of the teeth 3.

In order to hold the ring 2 in place on the base plate 1 and to keep it from lifting up in the event of a shock. the movement described here comprises a holding or retaining plate I0 which covers the movement. and the two ends of which may be seen in the drawing. This plate I0 is of an elongated shape and extends across the movement diametrically. It is fastened to the base plate I by a screw 10b and one or two guide studs 10a. It is placed upon the upper faces of projections which ensure the guidance of the ring 2 in rotation. so that it is situated at a level slightly above that of the upper faces of the teeth 3. At one of its ends. it has an arcuate edge 11 which covers a few teeth of the ring 2. A very slight clearance exists between the plate 10 and the teeth 3 so as to avoid any jamming or braking during rotation. The edge II extends over an arc of less than The other end of the plate 10 is narrower than the portions having the curved edge II. The crenellated edge of this other end comprises two trapezoidal notches l2 and 13 separated by a projection 14. On either side of the notches l2 and I3 are end portions 15 and 16 which likewise constitute projections. It will be noted that the notches I2 and 13 are of the same size and arrangement as the teeth 3 and that their spacing is exactly equal to the pitch of the toothing 3.

As may be seen in FIG. 2. the front edges of each of the notches l2 and 13. viewed in the direction of an arrow 17 in FIG. 1 which indicates the normal direction of movement of the ring 2, have slightly inclined bevels 18, while the rear edges of the notches l2 and 13 are slightly bent downwards so that the lower faces of the projections exhibit slopes such as the slope 19. these slopes having approximately the same inclination as the bevels 18. As a variation. it would also be possible to provide only one of the inclined surfaces 18 and 19.

The fitting of the ring 2 is greatly facilitated by the arrangement just described. The plate 10 may be fas tened on the base plate 1 and may hold the spring 9 and the jumper 7 in place. The ring 2 itself will be put in place as follows: the ring 2 will be held over the base plate 1 in a slightly slanted position. and a portion of its toothing 3 will be engaged under the arcuate edge 11 of the plate 10. By means of a tool. the jumper 7 will be made to pivot inwardly. tcnsing the spring 9. and the ring 2 will be positioned so that two of its teeth 3 exactly face the notches l2 and 13. The ring 2 can then be placed on the base plate I so that when the jumper 7 is released. its left flank. as viewed in FIG. I. will press on one of the teeth 3. The spring 9 will therefore tend to cause the ring 2 to turn in the direction of the arrow 17 so as to bring it into its resting position, in which the jumper 7 presses equally on two adjacent teeth. During the course of this movement. the two teeth which have entered the notches l2 and 13 will become engaged under the bevels 18. FIG. 1 shows the final position of the ring 2. It will be seen that the rear portions of the teeth engaged under the projections 14 and 16 still appear in the notches l2 and 13. The arrangement just described obviously keeps the ring 2 both centered and held against the base plate 1. On the other hand, when the date-change takes place. if the teeth pass rapidly into the position where they are facing the notches l2 and I3. it is clear that the risk of ejection is virtually nil. When the calendar mechanism is an instantaneous-jump mechanism. that condition will be met automatically. If it is not an instantaneousjump mechanism, it will be advisable to ensure that the position where two of the teeth 3 face the notches I2 and I3 is reached after the point of the jumper 7 has passed the tooth which was situated behind it. for the jumper 7 is then rapidly advancing under the influence of the spring 9.

It has been found that even if an axial shock occurs at the moment of the date-change. it is practically impossible for the ring 2 to be ejected because of the movement effected by the teeth in the plane ofthe ring.

The bevels I8 are intended to prevent blocking of the upper front edges of the teeth 3 against the front edges of the notches in case a slight axial displacement should occur. By the same token. the slopes 19 are intended to hold the ring 2 against the base plate 1 and likewise to prevent the risk of blocking when the date changes.

As a variation, or as an additional precaution. the jumper 7 may be designed as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. In these figures. a jumper 20 is a flexible steel blade blanked and bent in a plate 21 which may be fastened to the base plate I. The front end of this blade is bent in a \/-shape so as to rest against two of the teeth 3, but a front end element 22 of the jumper 20 is also bent obliquel so that it rests only against the upper edge of one of the teeth 3'. with this arrangement. as will be seen in the drawing. the front element 22 of the jumper 20 tests against the point where the inner upper edge of the tooth Jjoins the rear side edge and the rear vertical edge. Thus the force exerted by the jumper 20 on the ring 2 contains a slight axial component tending to press the ring 2 against the base plate I. and this component suffices to prevent ejection or blocking of the ring 2 when it is subjected to a force tending to lift it off the base plate I at the exact moment of the datechange.

Thus the arrangement described ensures the axial retention of the ring 2. The plate I0 may conveniently be fitted in place with the jumper 7 and the spring 9. with out any risk of losing the spring 9. after which the ring 2 is quickly put in place without any mounting operation or special tools. as explained above.

Instead of enabling the ring 2 to be put in place by a relative displacement between the retaining plate and this ring due to a slight rotation of the ring out of its resting position. the retaining arrangement described here may also be so designed as to enable the ring to be released by a displacement of the cover element. and FIG. 3 shows an example of such an embodiment. In this figure. we again see the ring 2 with its toothing 3. the base plate I. and the jumper 7 mounted on the stud 8. Here the retaining plate 10 is divided into at least two parts. one of which. a part 23 constituting a support body. is visible in FIG. 3. It is fastened on the base plate I by a screw 24 and a guide-foot 27, and it holds both the spring 9 and the jumper 7 in place. Thus the plate part 23 comprises a rigid portion which serves to fasten it and to hold the jumper and its spring. and a deformable or resilient arm 25 which ends in a widening in the form of a triangular beak 26 constituting the cover element which enables the ring 2 to be disengaged by relative displacement. when the blade-spring 25 is in its relaxed position (FIG. 3), the cover element 26 partially covers two of the teeth 3 and is situated at a sufficient distance from the edge of the plate part 23 to enable it to be radially displaced inwardly. by resilient deformation of the blade 25. and to release the ring 2. For that purpose. it suffices to use tweezers or a screwdriver.

The size of the blade 25 will be such that it cannot bend in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing but can. on the contrary. be deformed in that plane. It will easily be realized that the object of the invention is likewise achieved by the arrangement shown in FIG. 3.

As a modification of this embodiment. the size of the blade 25 might also be such that it undergoes a permanent deformation when the element 26 is pushed back radially towards the outside after the date-ring has been put in place. and that it remains in the position shown in FIG. 3.

In a modification of this embodiment. not shown. instead of a single resilient blade 25. there could be two blades extending radially in the direction of the toothing starting from the edge of the plate part 23 and. at the free ends of these two parallel blades. cover elements extending transversely. like the cross-bars of a T, with respect to the radial blades. The size of the cover element constituted by these two Crossbars would then be such as constantly to cover one of the teeth 3 over most of the path it travels when the ring advances by one step. In the resting position determined by the jumper 7. one of the teeth would be partially covered by the ends of the two crossbars. so that it would suffice to move the radial blades apart in order to release the ring.

Other arrangements with resilient blades integral with a retaining member are likewise conceivable.

FIG. 4 represents a third embodiment of the arrangement described in which the cover element is integral with the jumper. This embodiment utilizes a support body or jumper 28 composed of a rigid piece thicker than the toothing 3 and pivoting about a stud 29. The means which hold the jumper axially are not shown in the drawing, nor is the spring of the jumper 28. The tri' angular point of the jumper 28 has a continuous rim or cover element which follows the two V-shaped flanks of the point and. consequently. in the resting position. covers the points of the two teeth 3 with which the jumper is in contact.

During the date-change. the tooth 3 which is situated against the rear flank of thejumper 28 at the beginning and against its front flank at the end obviously remains constantly under the rim 30, which thus constitutes a cover clement integral with the retaining member constituted by the jumper 28.

Here. too. instead of a pivoting jumper. a resilient jumper blanked and bent from a thin plate fastened to the base plate might be used. The triangular point of this jumper would then have two rims bent outwardly and coming together at the point of the jumper. these rims constituting the cover element and being disposed like the continuous rim 30 of FIG. 4. With these embodiments according to FIGS. 3 and 4. it would suffice. in order to put the ring 2 in place. to engage the toothing of the ring 2 under the cover elements of the other retaining members fastened to the base plate. to move the free ends of the jumper 25 or 28 out of the resting position by displacing it inwardly against the action of the spring. and to place the entire ring 2 on the base plate, then allowing the jumper to assume its place. The disassembling of the ring will be carried out by a reverse movement during which a relative displacement occurs between the cover element and the toothing of the date-ring. and this toothing is released.

Finally. in other possible embodiments. the cover elements described might also cooperate with an outer toothing of an indicator member.

What is claimed is:

l. A watch movement comprising a base plate having a protuberant portion. a circular movable indicator member provided with a peripheral toothing and rotatively guided by said protuberant portion of said base plate. a holding plate rigidly secured to said base plate and having an arcuate edge portion extending over an are less than 180 above said toothing. a cover clement extending opposite said edge portion and above said toothing. a stud fastened to said base plate. a support body adapted to pivot about said stud. said cover element being rigidly joined to said support body, and a spring which acts on said support body in such a way that a portion of said body presses against the toothing of the indicator member. whereby said portion of said body acts as a jumper.

2. A watch movement comprising a base plate having a protuberant portion. a circular movable indicator member provided with a peripheral toothing and rotatively guided by said protuberant portion of said base plate. a holding plate rigidly secured to said base plate and having an arcuate edge portion extending over an are less than above said toothing. said holding plate including a support body rigidly secured to said base plate and having a deformable arm. and a cover element extending opposite said edge portion and above said toothing. said cover element being joined to said support body by said deformable arm.

3. A watch movement according to claim 2 wherein said deformable arm is resilient.

4. A watch movement comprising a base plate having a protuberant portion. a circular movable indicator member provided with a peripheral toothing having a plurality of teeth and rotatively guided by said protuberant portion of said base plate. a holding plate rigidly secured to said base plate and having an arcuate edge portion extending over an are less than 180 above said toothing. a jumper mounted on said base plate. and cover elements extending opposite said edge portion and above said toothing. said cover elements being rigidly connected to said base plate and including projections separated by notches. the shape and distribution of said notches being identical to those of said teeth. said indicator member having a resting position provided by said jumper mounted on said base plate. and each projection extending above one of said teeth when said indicating member is in the resting position.

5. A watch movement according to claim 4, wherein said cover elements are integral with said holding plate.

6. A watch movement according to claim 4. wherein said jumper includes a portion which enters into contact with the toothing of the indicator member. said jumper portion comprising inclined contact faces entering into contact with the upper edges of the teeth.

7. A watch movement according to claim 4, wherein said teeth covered by said projections extend partially under said projections and partially into said notches when said indicator member is in the resting position provided by said jumper.

8. A watch movement according to claim 7. wherein the portions of said teeth which are left uncovered by the notches are the rear portions of said teeth. considering the toothing in the direction of movement of the indicator member.

9. A watch movement according to claim 8 wherein said projections comprise inclined faces at the front ends of the notches. said inclined faces being disposed on the side of the cover elements facing said toothing of said indicator member.

10. A watch movement according to claim 8, wherein said projections comprise projecting. oblique slopes situated at the rear edges of the notches. 

1. A watch movement comprising a base plate having a protuberant portion, a circular movable indicator member provided with a peripheral toothing and rotatively guided by said protuberant portion of said base plate, a holding plate rigidly secured to said base plate and having an arcuate edge portion extending over an arc less than 180* above said toothing, a cover element extending opposite said edge portion and above said toothing, a stud fastened to said base plate, a support body adapted to pivot about said stud, said cover element being rigidly joined to said support body, and a spring which acts on said support body in such a way that a portion of said body presses against the toothing of the indicator member, whereby said portion of said body acts as a jumper.
 2. A watch movement comprising a base plate having a protuberant portion, a circular movable indicator member provided with a peripheral toothing and rotatively guided by said protuberant portion of said base plate, a holding plate rigidly secured to said base plate and having an arcuate edge portion extending over an arc less than 180* above said toothing, said holding plate including a support body rigidly secured to said base plate and having a deformable arm, and a cover element extending opposite said edge portion and above said toothing, said cover element being joined to said support body by said deformable arm.
 3. A watch movement according to claim 2 wherein said deformable arm is resilient.
 4. A watch movement comprising a base plate having a protuberant portion, a circular movable indicator member provided with a peripheral toothing having a plurality of teeth and rotatively guided by said protuberant portion of said base plate, a holding plate rigidly secured to said base plate and having an arcuate edge portion extending over an arc less than 180* above said toothing, a jumper mounted on said base plate, and cover elements extending opposite said edge portion and above said toothing, said cover elementS being rigidly connected to said base plate and including projections separated by notches, the shape and distribution of said notches being identical to those of said teeth, said indicator member having a resting position provided by said jumper mounted on said base plate, and each projection extending above one of said teeth when said indicating member is in the resting position.
 5. A watch movement according to claim 4, wherein said cover elements are integral with said holding plate.
 6. A watch movement according to claim 4, wherein said jumper includes a portion which enters into contact with the toothing of the indicator member, said jumper portion comprising inclined contact faces entering into contact with the upper edges of the teeth.
 7. A watch movement according to claim 4, wherein said teeth covered by said projections extend partially under said projections and partially into said notches when said indicator member is in the resting position provided by said jumper.
 8. A watch movement according to claim 7, wherein the portions of said teeth which are left uncovered by the notches are the rear portions of said teeth, considering the toothing in the direction of movement of the indicator member.
 9. A watch movement according to claim 8 wherein said projections comprise inclined faces at the front ends of the notches, said inclined faces being disposed on the side of the cover elements facing said toothing of said indicator member.
 10. A watch movement according to claim 8, wherein said projections comprise projecting, oblique slopes situated at the rear edges of the notches. 